Paradise Williams

Facts on the public record

1. From June 2020 to February 2022, personally submitted over 125 fraudulent applications for US Treasury Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds administered by King County, the Paycheck Protection Program, the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and CARES Act unemployment benefits. source
2. Enlisted over 50 associates, including five codefendants, to obtain more than $3.3 million by posing as fake tenants, landlords and small-business owners, creating falsified bank statements, tenant ledgers and landlord attestations. source
3. Personally received more than $2 million in fraudulent proceeds, including over $700,000 obtained directly from administering agencies and more than $1.2 million in kickback payments from associates for facilitating their fraudulent submissions. source
4. Laundered the funds through cash withdrawals, wire transfers and purchases of luxury cars, lavish trips, cosmetic surgery, jewellery and designer goods. source
5. Sentenced on March 5, 2024 by US District Judge John H. Chun in Seattle to 5 years in prison for wire fraud and money laundering, ordered to pay restitution of $2,791,241 to the US Department of the Treasury and $512,730 to the Small Business Administration, and to forfeit $2,023,104 along with a Lexus sedan and a Range Rover SUV. source

Cases

• A Seattle woman's ring stole $6.8 million from pandemic programs, led by the largest ERAP theft case in the nation (2024)

Sources

1. Leader of $6.8 million pandemic fraud scheme sentenced to 5 years in prison. US Department of Justice, US Attorney's Office, Western District of Washington. Accessed 2026-10-12.